Friday Five: August 22, 2025

This week brought a blend of administrative victories, unexpected car troubles that turned into unexpected gifts, family celebrations, summer savoring, and the anticipation that comes with introducing someone you love to traditions they've never experienced. Here's what's been occupying my thoughts:

1. I have officially declared this month Get Your Life Together August, and it's been surprisingly effective at motivating me to tackle some of the tasks I've been avoiding. I was putting off a few obligations earlier this summer, little things that aren't too difficult, just tedious. This week's victories: I renewed my car tabs, finally scheduled an appointment to legally change my name after getting married in May, and booked a doctor's appointment I'd been putting off. It felt great to check these items off my list, even though each task took less than ten minutes to actually accomplish.

   
   

   The momentum is real. Having a theme for the month makes these scattered tasks feel like part of a cohesive project rather than reminding me of random failures. Up next on the Get Your Life Together August agenda: getting an oil change and tackling the garage that's been serving as a catch-all for all of our outdoor gear and extra furniture. It's funny how the things that stress us out the most when we're avoiding them often turn out to be the most satisfying when we finally do them. 
   

2. We were getting ready for a road trip this week and decided to give the car a good cleaning at one of those self-service car washes. Everything was going smoothly until we were done and we realized we'd locked the keys inside the car. My immediate internal reaction was frustration. It was past dinner time, we were hungry and exhausted. But then I looked at my husband, expecting to see similar frustration, and instead he just shrugged and said, "Well, I guess we have to call a locksmith."

   
   

   So there we sat in the car wash parking lot, watching the sun set behind the trees, talking about everything and nothing. No distractions, no other obligations pulling us in different directions, just an hour of unplanned time together. It's the kind of thing that's actually been rare in our busy lives lately, but somehow felt like a gift hidden in the inconvenience. It's such a relief being married to someone who doesn't get upset when things don't go according to plan. That hour reminded me that some of life's best moments come disguised as minor disasters, and that the person you choose to weather those moments with makes all the difference.
   

3. My family celebrated my bridal shower this week, and I'm still glowing from feeling so thoroughly celebrated and loved. There's something healing about being surrounded by the women who have known you through different seasons of life. The shower itself was beautiful, but what struck me most was the intentionality behind it. Every detail felt so sweet and thoughtful, from the decorations to the activities to the way conversations naturally flowed between generations. These are the moments that remind you that family is about showing up for each other's milestones with genuine joy and excitement.

   
   

   I keep thinking about how these celebrations become the memories that anchor us. Years from now, I won't remember every wedding planning detail or stress, but I'll remember the feeling of being surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to celebrate this new chapter. The gifts were lovely and thoughtful, but the gift of feeling truly seen and celebrated by family feels like something I'll carry with me for a long time.

   
   

4. I've been making a conscious effort to soak up these final weeks of summer. Late August is still warm, but with hints of the golden hour that comes earlier each day. The evenings are perfect for neighborhood walks, and I've been taking full advantage. These walks have become a form of meditation, a way to process the day while moving my body and connecting with the season.

   
   

   

   Once you get out and walk around a bit, you notice the little things that make your neighborhood beautiful.

   
   

   Summer in Minnesota feels especially precious because we know how finite it is. Come October, these evening walks will require jackets and determination. But right now, in these perfect 75-degree evenings with gentle breezes and the sound of kids playing in backyards, it feels important to be fully present for what we know won't last forever.
   

5. The Minnesota State Fair starts this weekend, and I'm genuinely excited to bring my husband there for his very first time. As a Minnesota native, the State Fair feels like an essential cultural experience, something you can't fully understand until you've navigated the crowds, sampled the various foods on sticks, and marveled at the butter heads.

   
   

   Here's a fun fact that even many Minnesotans don't know: opening day of the State Fair is typically the lowest-attended day of the entire run. While everyone assumes the first day will be packed, most people actually wait for the weekend or later in the fair's duration. This makes opening day a bit of of a hidden gem, with all the same attractions and food with significantly smaller crowds.

As we head into the final stretch of summer and the beginning of what feels like a significant September with our upcoming wedding reception, I'm reminding myself that naming your intentions makes them more powerful, unexpected delays can become unexpected gifts, and paying attention to the changing seasons makes them more meaningful. Have a great weekend!